The sun is set to shine as event-goers make beautiful music together at this weekend's colourful array of festivals.
Natacha Atlas - one of the many performers appearing at the 7th Festival of World Cultures this weekend.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2007 is aiming for 250,000 punters worldwide to join in on what organisers hope will be the world's biggest traditional music session, which kicks off in Tullamore's O'Connor Square at 8pm.
While huge crowds are expected at this year's seventh Festival of World Cultures in Dún Laoghaire, which runs from today till Sunday.
More than 220,000 people attended last year's event. This year over 800 artists will take part in 150 events representing over 80 countries from Uzbekistan and Mali to Mexico and Iceland.
It is also a big sporting weekend with Croke Park set to host the semi-final between Kerry and Dublin at 3.30pm on Sunday. Laois will take on Derry in the other semi-final match at 1.45pm.
While tonight Ireland will take on Italy at Ravenhill in the last of the warm-up Rugby World Cup matches - it has been 53 years since Ireland last played a full international at the Belfast stadium .
Forecasters are prediciting a mostly fine weekend with the chance of some rain tomorrow. Sunday will be mainly dry with spells of warm sunshine
As the weekend escape began, AA Roadwatch was reporting heavy traffic on most main roads, but no major accidents.
Meanwhile tonight spare a thought for 65 ladies who are battling it out at the Ballroom in Dublin's Parnell Place in an attempt to take part in a matchmaking exercise with 10 bachelors from Drumlish.
Organisers of the Marquee in Drumlish festival in Co Longford have arranged for 10 single men from Drumlish - which has the most bachelors per head of population - to be matched with 10 single women from Stillorgan in Dublin, - Ireland's highest rate of single lasses.
More than 1,100 women have registered, but only 10 will make it from tonight's interview to next weekend's event.